Related Content

Visitors also comment on the many trophies on display at the store, reflecting the First Division wins and others from over the years.

Greerton Lotto and Tauranga Pak'n Save registered the second and third highest winning tickets hauls in the region; 30,208 and 25,719, respectively.

Te Puke Four Square and Lotto sold 25,095 tickets, resulting in $310,745 in winnings.

Owner Ross McAinch said it certainly made him feel good to know most the money went back into the local community.

"The majority of our customers are local customers," Mr McAinch said.

The shop had two second division winners a couple of months ago, who both won more than $20,000.

One of the women did not know she had won and was surprised when she checked her ticket at the store and Mr McAinch handed over a winning receipt.

"She thought it said $2100. I said: 'You might want to look again. It says $21,500'. It's always pretty cool when you see that. It's a neat feeling when you know one of us sold it. It's pretty exciting," he said.

The region's biggest Lotto fairytale was from AJ's store on Devonport Rd, which sold a $27 million winning ticket in September.

The Big Wednesday prize was claimed by a local man, who described himself as a "typical Kiwi bloke".

It was the third biggest prize in NZ Lotteries' history and the biggest nationally last year.